Journal-box.



L. G. WOODS.

JOURNAL BOX LPPLIOATIQN FILED DEO.16, 1909 1,052,546. Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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LEoNann cg. woo'ns, or mr'rssunon; PENNSYLVANIA;

" JOURNAL-Box:

v Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11,1913.

application filed December 16, m9. Serial No. 533,436.

To all/whom it may concern:

Be it know'ngthat I LEONARD G. Wooos,a resident of Pittsburgh inthe county of Allegheny and State of l ennsylvania, iave inventeda new: and useful Improvement in J ournal-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion thereof.

l\' y invention relates to journal boxes. Its object is to -.provide a railroad journal box which can be economically manufactured, andwhich will at the same time be subject to as little wear as possible on the bearing surfaces, so as to prolong the life of the entire box.

In journal or axle boxes as commercially constructed of cast metal, such as cast iron, steel, or malleable iron, the portions of the box, and especially the top inner surface, which are in contact with the journalhox wedge are subjected to the greatest stresses and the greatest wear. The wedge which is inserted between the top portion of the box and the journal bearin is constructed with a curved top sur ace. The flat inner face of the journal-box is therefore in contact with this wedge only along a very narrow strip (theoretically a line) transversely of the axle. This is to allow for tilting or tipping longitudinally of the axle, which the side stresses in a moving car and the unevenness of the track produce. In the commercial journal-box as constructed of cast or malleable ferrous metal, the portion of the box top which is in contact with the journal box wedge is subject to great wear, especially with the cars of great capacity such as have now come into general use, and therefore soon loses its plane surface and assumes a concave surface similar to the top surface of the wedge. This has the effect of locking the wedge to the journal bearing and defeats the principal function of the wedge causing uneven ressure on the journal portion of the axe and frequent hot boxes and other disasters.

To'these ends my invention consists essentially ina metallic journal box having a top portion of relatively soft metal provided with a hardened wearing surface, in combination with a pressure transmitting or bearing member such as a wedge contacting with the hardened wearing surface of the box, the said surfacesbein of different curvatures sothat a durabfia rocking contact is preserved between them.

In the preferred construction embodying the invention the journal box is of wrought or'comparatively soft cast metal having a hardened lane or flat wearing surface, and the journaq box wedge is of hard steel having its to surface curved and in rocking contact with said wearing surface.

It also consists in certain other improvements of like nature as hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawings Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of a journal-box showing my invention as applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of a ournalbox illustrating a modification; Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section of a ournal-box illustrating another modification; and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5, Fi 4.

The box 1 illustrate in Fig. 1, is provided with the usual wedge 2 and journal bearing 3 in contact with the journal portion 4 of the axle 5. The wedge has a top surface 6 of curved outline. The box is constructed preferably of comparativel soft metal sue i as cast iron or steel or ma leable iron, and has preferably the top portion 7 integral with the rest of the ournal-box. The to portion 7 is provided with the seat 8 in w ich is inserted the wearing piece 9 of hard metal, the wearing piece 9 being held in place by any suitable means such as the dovetailing 9' or the rivets 10. It may also be welded or cast with the top portion of the box. The wearing piece 9 extends preferably substantially across the box in the direction transversel thereof, and has a plane or fiat wearingsur ace 11 extending longitudinally of the axle 5 a suilicient distance to provide a surface of contact for the wedge 2 at all positions of lateral tipping of the parts. The wearing strip 9 is preferably of forged or of surface hardened steel or of any har metal, as hardness alone is necessary, the stresses from the arch bars bein carried throu h the main top portion of the box 1. Bfy this means I provide a rocking surface 0 contact between the wedge 2 and wearing strip 9 which is practically permanent, and thereby prevents locking of the top portion 7 and conse uent great friction and hot boxes due tot e uneven pressure of the journal bearing 3 upon the journal portions 4 of the axle.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate a modification in which the entire wearing surface of the journal boxes 12 is constructed of hardened or chilled metall The hardened surface may be obtained by case hardening where the box is constructed of steel or malleable iron,.orby. chilling when .the boxis eonstructed of cast iron. Thus the bearing surface 13 of the top portion 14 of'the box 12 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 has the hardened surface, as indicated at 15 by the section lining. The hardened character of the metal is shown-as extending across-the wearing surface13 'of-the box, and also including the surface of-the wed e guides 16 and sto or endlug 18 as indicated in Fig. 3. lhe wedge 17 is of thc usual construction, having a curved top surface, and by this means I provide a hard rocking and wearing surface in contact-with the wedge at all points of great wear. If desired, however, only thetop portion 14 may be constructed of hardened metal for a spaeelongitudinally of the axle of sufficient extent to provide for all rocking.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and'5 the hardened wearing surface is obtained byinserting a bearing yoke 20 within the journal-box 21. The yoke 20 is constructed of hard metal, such as a steel forging or casting, and is preferably molded or tion so as to be substantially integral with the same. The bearing yoke 20 has the arms 22, which form the pads or wearing surfaces of the guides 23.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A journal box of relatively soft metal having a oke of harder metal seated in its top and side portions and having a bearing member supported by the axle in contact with said hard metal yoke.

2. A journal box of relatively soft metal provided with a top portion and wedge guides having surfaces of harder metal, and a wed e sup )orted by the axle and in contact with sai surfaces.

In testimony whereof, I the said LEONARD G. \Vooos have hereunto set my hand.

LEONARD G. \VOODS.

Witnesses:

R. J. BROWN, F. W. KAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

